A Pilsner and three Stouts

I picked up a few different beers in a couple of mixed 6-packs and I sampled the following one eveneing: 1) Breckenridge Regal Imperial Pilsner (7.7% ABV and 45 IBU), 2) Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout (5.7% ABV and 23 IBU), 3) Green Flash Double Stout (8.8% ABV and 45 IBU), and 4) Bison Brewing Chocolate Stout (5% ABV).  My favorite stout was the Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout - it was excellent and was just an easy drinking flavorful stout.  The Green Flash was a bit hoppier and it was easy to detect the increased bitterness after the Barney Flats.  The Chocolate Stout tasted "weaker" after the Green Flash and while I think it is a good stout, it lacked the flavor profile after the Barney Flats and Green Flash.  The Regal Pilsner was a very good pilsner and had a minty finish that I think is from the hops.  It is part of the small-batch series.  I highly recommend Regal Double Pilsner and Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout.

Website description - Regal Double Pilsner - "A double Pilsner with distinct hoppy attributes and a pronounced malty backbone. It is strong in character and steadfast in its resolve to provide maximum drinking pleasure. All hail our Brewmaster and the fruits of his labor, Regal Pilsner!"
URL - http://www.breckbrew.com

Website description - Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout - "Barney Flats is the Boontling name for Hendy Woods State Park, a deep redwood forrest with a tree canopy so thick it can seem like nighttime at high noon.  It is no wonder that Anderson Valley Brewing Company named its deep, rich, dark oatmeal stout after Barney Flats. Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout is full-bodied with a decadent mocha character and smooth mouthfeel balanced by a subtle hop bite. Near and dear to our hearts, Barney Flats was our first gold medal winner in 1990, but recently took bronze at the 2010 World Beer Cup.  Great on its own or as the perfect desert beer. Pair with chocolate and you’ll never have anything else.  As with all of our products, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized."
URL - http://www.avbc.com

Website description - Green Flash Double Stout - "Golden naked oats mashed with dark crystal and robust roasted malts create a luscious black brew with satin smooth finish. An old-world style, done the Green Flash way. Big, bold, flavorful and complex."
URL - http://www.greenflashbrew.com

Website description - Bison Brewing Chocolate Stout - "Bison’s Chocolate Stout is a medium-bodied ale characterized by rich cocoa and roasted malt aromas, charismatic flavors of dark chocolate and espresso, a creamy mouthfeel and smooth, dry finish."
URL - http://bisonbrew.com

Odell's Double Pilsner and St. Lupulin are excellent

Odell classifies Double Pilsner (8.1% ABV) as an Imperial Pilsner.  When the term “Imperial” is used with a style it typically means a bigger beer, higher ABV, higher malt, higher hops, depending on what the brewer wants to achieve with the given Imperial they are brewing.  Pouring Double Pilsner is an experience because it is one of the most carbonated beers I have ever poured.  The bubbles never stopped – just take close look at the photo.  Double Pilsner pours gold with a two-finger head and has a good malt aroma.  The taste of this Pilsner is incredible and I would say it is my favorite Pilsner.  Odell describes Double Pilsner as “We feel the eyes of tradition upon us whenever we brew our Double Pilsner. But this beer is not just our tribute to the classic Bohemian pilsner – it’s our own craft interpretation of it. Refreshing and delicate yet bold and assertive, its clear golden color leaves nowhere for imperfections to hide but plenty of room for mystery”.  Double Pilsner is one of the 4-pack series.  I tried Myrcenary (Double IPA) and enjoyed it very mush too.  I will purchase the other offerings from Odell in their 4-pack series.  There are no imperfections with this beer and Odell hits a home run with this one.  It was a great pairing with Chicken, Jambalaya rice, and mixed sautéed vegetables.

After sampling Double Pilsner, I sampled a St. Lupulin (6.5% ABV and 46 IBU) that Odell classifies as an Extra Pale Ale.  St. Lupulin pours golden / straw – a bit darker than Double Pilsner – with a small lacey head.  St. Lupulin strikes a great balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness.  I do not find this beer overly hoppy and I think it is a great summer ale.  Odell describes St. Lupulin as “A mystical legend echoes in our brewhouse – that of St. Lupulin (loop-you-lin) the archetypal hophead. He devoted endless summers to endless rows of hops, tending to the flowers and the beloved resin within – lupulin. Extraordinary oils in this yellow resin provide this dry-hopped extra pale ale with an undeniably pleasing floral aroma and clean, crisp finish. One sip of this seasonal summer ale and you too, will believe.”  St. Lupulin is a seasonal summer ale that is available between May through September and I will be purchasing more.  Besides Colorado, Odell distributes in Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona.  If you have the opportunity to sample St. Lupulin, Double Pilsner, Myrcenary, or other offerings from Odell I highly recommend them.